Officer's Anger Abates In A Brotherhood Of Blue

Police Graduation

Associated Press

The New York Police Academy graduation ceremony on Dec. 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York was marked by a moment of silence over the Dec. 20 shooting deaths of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.

The New York Police Academy graduation ceremony on Dec. 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York was marked by a moment of silence over the Dec. 20 shooting deaths of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (Associated Press)

CALEB LOPEZ | OP-ED

Anger turns to pride for a South Windsor officer after attending funeral of slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos

I am a police officer, and I have been angry. For months, I have heard the attacks on my fellow officers. I have seen the media and the Al Sharptons take common criminals and turn them into martyrs. I have seen people who have never worn a badge or put their lives on the line comment on police procedures. They think that a Taser beats a bullet, that because someone is unarmed they do not present a danger, and because someone is a minority it gives them the right to cry foul when the law holds them accountable.

I have been angry with people calling for hatred and violence against police. I have been angry at the looting and destruction, at how people that say they are unfairly treated like criminals unjustly act like criminals by destroying their own communities to protest injustice.

I have been angry at how a profession I love has been turned into a punching bag. Yes, like any profession, we have bad apples who shame the badge and dishonor the heroes who have fallen. They are few and far between and they stand out for their actions and their betrayals. And we, who live by a code, are all too willing to bring them to justice.

I have been angry that our children have had to defend us against the attack of others.

I have been angry, and I lost my way. And then two officers lost their lives in New York City. Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot in their patrol car on Dec. 20. They were killed by cowardice that was fed by the pundits on the news channels and the social sites. Cowards who walk the streets protesting behind Fawkes masks and ski masks, shouting insults and threats, repeating misinformation and ignorance — they promised to protest on the day of a cop's funeral, because they fear attention being taken away from their argument because a life was lost.

We are an unmovable force for good. We are the guardians of peace, who at times must make choices few can understand, and so many have the luxury to critique.— CALEB LOPEZ

And in anger I went to New York on Saturday to honor the fallen at the funeral of Officer Ramos. I went so angry because two families were shattered and two heroes were taken too soon. I stood shoulder to shoulder with close to 30,000 other officers, a sea of blue.

And then something happened. As prayers were said, as speeches were given, as helicopters flew in formation overhead, I did not see the black and white and Asian and Hispanic faces that stood together. I did not see the Muslim officer whispering encouragement to the Christian officer. I, a Puerto Rican born on the island, did not think about the Jewish colleague and the Irish colleague with whom I had traveled from a small department in Connecticut.

I did not see all the different skins and ethnicities and religions and creeds. I saw blue. All around me, as far as the eye could see, stood brothers and sisters in blue together. An officer from Seymour on my left extended a hand, while a New York officer on my right extended another. I took each, and we stood in prayer and reflection. We had never met, and we would probably never meet again. But in that moment we grieved together for two fallen comrades and we swore to honor their memories. And then we let go, and moved on.

And I no longer was angry. I felt pride and honor, and I realized that no matter how many protesters and pundits are out there, there are so many more of us. We are an unmovable force for good. We are the guardians of peace, who at times must make choices few can understand, and so many have the luxury to critique. There is no challenge we cannot overcome. We are stronger because we are a brotherhood and a sisterhood. A fraction of the officers on active duty came to New York and we took over a city, because two of us had fallen. We outnumber those who would do harm.

We are the thin blue line, we never forget, and we shall continue to protect and serve.

Caleb Lopez is an officer in the South Windsor Police Department. These views are his own.